Dispensing apparatus



R. Av TIBBITT Aug. 29, 1967 DISPENSING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed July 28, 1965 F IG. 1

T m ms V B W W A w M. I 5. 4 7 Q 5 5 4 4 R /M Y B ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,338,523 DISPENSING APPARATUS Ross A. Tibbitt, 1805 Normandy, Royal Oak, Mich. 48073 Filed July 28, 1965, Ser. No. 475,335 8 Claims. (Cl. 239-61) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to an apparatus for dispensing two substances and more particularly to apparatus especially adapted for the mixing of two separate substances in proportional amounts and spraying of the mixture in a continuous stream.

Apparatus of the kind with which the invention is concerned is especially, but not exclusively, adapted for use in the automotive repair field, and particularly in the repair of automobile bodies. In the repair of automobile bodies, it is fairly common to make use of aviscous, putty-like material which, when mixed with the proper amount of a catalytic agent, may adhere to the surface of the vehicle body and become practically metal hard so as to form a filler for a gap or dent and which may be sanded and subsequently painted. Heretofore the mixing of the putty and catalytic agent has been primarily a manual operation requiring considerable skill on the part of theworkman in the mixing of just the right amounts of putty and catalyst. Quite commonly, however, an excessive amount of the mixture is prepared, resulting in waste. Moreover, it is fairly common for improper amounts of the putty and catalyst to be mixed, thereby resulting in an imperfect end product. In either event, the results obtained are less than satisfactory.

For the use of the putty-like material to be acceptable in the automotive repair field, the hardening of the putty must be quite rapid. This characteristic, however, heretofore has made it difiicult, if not impossible, to use spray apparatus in the application of the putty, for the reason that hardening of the putty within the spray device would render the latter incapable of further operation. Accordingly, primarily a manual operation, resulting in the disadvantages referred to above. 7

An object of this invention is to provide improved apparatus for mixing and spraying two different substances, such as body putty and a catalytic agent, in the correct proportions and without subjecting the apparatus to any.

great risk of injury caused by hardening of the putty within the apparatus.

Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the character referred to in which the two substances are mixed within the apparatus prior to the discharge of the mixture.

A further object of the invention is to provide apparatusfor mixing and spraying two different substances and in which discontinuation of the spraying operation effects automatic cleaning of the apparatus.

Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the class described which do not require any great skill on the part of the operator.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be pointed out specifically or will become apparent from the following description when it 'is considered in conthe use of body putty heretofore has been junction with the appended claims and the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary view, partly in elevation and partly in section, of apparatus constructed and assembled in accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged, vertical sectional view of the apparatus and illustrating it in its inoperative or nonspraying condition;

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE 2, but illustrating the apparatus in its operative condition;

FIGURE 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of FIGURE 1.

Apparatus constructed in accordance with the disclosed embodiment of the invention comprises a gun type spray device 1 having a main frame 2 to which is secured a pistol grip or handle 3 and one end of a barrel or head 4. Within the handle 3 is a chamber Sin communication with one end of a passage 6, the other end of which may be in communication with a hose 7 or the like leading to a source (not shown) of pressure fluid such as compressed air. The handle 3 also includes another passage 8 in communication with the chamber 5, and a third passage 9 in communication at its lower end with the chamber 5'. The lower end of the passage 8 communicates with one end of a hose 10', about which more will be said subsequently.

Mounted in the chamber 5 is a valve seat 11 having two ports 12 and 13 adapted to communicate with the passages 8 and 9, respectively. The ports 12 and 13 normally are closed by a valve member 14 that constantly is urged toward the valve seat 11 by a spring 15 and which is fixed to a stem 16 that projects forwardly from the handle for engagement by an operating lever or trigger 17 that is pivoted as at 18 on the frame 2. The lever 17 constantly is urged to rock in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIGURES 1, 2 and 3, by suitable means such as a torsion spring 19 which reacts between the frame 2 and the lever 17. The arrangement is such that when the handle 17 is in the position shown in FIGURE 1 the ports 12 and 13 are closed, but when the lever is in the position shown in FIGURE 3 the ports 12 and 13 are open so as to permit pressure fluid to enter the passages 8 and 9 from the passage 6.

The upper end of the fluid passage 9 communicates with a generally horizontal bore 20. The bore 20 conveniently may accommodate a bolt 21 having a hollow shank 22 and a threaded end 23 which may be threaded into a correspondingly threaded opening 24 provided in the barrel 4. Suitable ports 25 may be formed in the shank 22 to permit pressure fluid to enter the shank and be delivered to the opening 24.

In communication with the opening 24 is a substantially horizontal passage 26 formed in the barrel 4 and extending from near the rear end thereof to the forward or discharge end of the barrel. The outer surface of the discharge end of the barrel 4 is threaded as at 27 to receive a correspondingly threaded nozzle cap 28 having a central opening 29 therein.

The barrel 4 is provided with an axially extending, centrally located bore 30, and the frame 2 is provided with an aligned bore 31. Snugly but reciprocably mounted within the bores 30 and 31 is a valve member 32 having a generally cylindrical body 33 the outside diameter of which corresponds substantially to the diameter of each of the bores 30 and 31. The body 33 is provided with an elongated, axially extending bore 34 which extends from the forward end of the of, its rear end. The body 33 is provided with a pair of axially spaced ports 35 and 36 for a purpose presently to explained.

valve toward, but terminates short Adapted to cooperate with the valve ports 35 and 36 is a pair of passages 37 and 38, respectively, found in the barrel. The passage 37 provides communication between the barrel bore 30 and a fitting 39 secured to the barrel, and the port 36 provides communication between the passage 38 and the source of pressure fluid. Adjacent but spaced rearwardly from the discharge end of the barrel 4 is another passage 40 which provides communication between the bore 30 and a fitting 41.

Means is provided for effecting axial movement of the valve 32 and comprises a reduced neck portion 42 adjacent the rcar end of the body 33 and accommodated in a slot 43 provided in the handle 17. The terminal end of the body 33 is enlarged, as at 44, so that rocking movement of the handle 17 in either direction about the pivot 18 causes sliding movement of the valve 32 relative to the barrel 4. The extent of movement of the valve 32 may be limited by a pair of stops 45 and 46.

Associated with the apparatus thus far described is a receptacle or container 46 comprising a pair of contiguous cylinders 47 and 48 having a common wall portion 49 therebetween. Each of the cylinders 47 and 48 is open at its upper end and the common wall portion 49' is vertically slotted as at 50 from the open ends of the cylinders toward the lower ends thereof. Adapted to be accommodated in the container 46 is a pair of cylindrical cartridges 51 and 52 that are joined to one another by a web 53 that is adapted to be accommodated in the slot 50. The lower ends of the cartridges 51 and 52 may be closed by displaceable walls 54 and 55, respectively, and the opposite ends of the cartridges may be closed by any suitable, removable cover (not shown). The volumes of the respective cartridges 51 and 52 are so related to one another that corresponding displacement of the displaceable wall portions 54 and 55 in equal amounts effects a proportional discharge of the contents.

Means for expelling the contents of the respective cartridges 51 and 52 comprises a piston 56 in the cylinder 47 and a piston 57 in the cylinder 48. To the pistons are connected piston rods 58 and 59, respectively, the lower ends of which extend beyond the container 46 and are joined together by a coupling 60. Set screws 61 and 62 secure the coupling to the respective piston rods so that movement of one is imparted to the other.

Adjacent the lower end of the cylinder 47 is a fitting 63 to which the hose 10 is joined. A fluid passage 64 (see FIGURE communicates with the interior of the cylinder 47 so as to introduce pressure fluid to the latter upon opening of the valve port 12. Introduction of pressure fluid to the lower end of the cylinder 47 effects upward displacement of the piston 56 and conjoint displacement of the piston 57 so as to discharge the contents of the respective cartridges 51 and 52.

The upper end of the container 46 normally is closed by an end cap 64 in which are passages 65 and 66 through,

which the substances in the cartridges 51 and 52 may pass. The passage 65 communicates with the fitting 41, and the passage 66 communicates with a tube 67 which, in turn, communicates with the fitting 39. The end cap 64 is removably secured in airtight relation with the container 46 by a plurality of clamp arms 68 and thumb screws 69.

When the parts of the apparatus are in the condition illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2, the valve 14 is in its closed position so as to prevent the delivery of pressure fluid to the passages 8 and 9. Moreover, the valve 32 is in its closed position so that each of the passages 37, 38 and 40 is closed. Thus, the apparatus is disabled from dispensing the materials in the container cartridges 51 and 52.

Upon clockwise rocking of the trigger 17 from the position shown in FIGURE 2 to the position shown in FIG- URE 3, the valve 32 will be displaced axially rearwardly and the valve 14 similarly will be displaced axially rearwardly, thereby enabling pressure fluid to pass through the valve ports 12 and 13 for introduction to the cylinder 47 and the-chamber 23, respectively. Rearward displacement of the valve 32 will move the body 33 to such position that the forward end of the body is positioned rearwardly of the passage 40, thereby enabling material from the cartridge 51 to be introduced directly to the bore 30 of the barrel 4. The rearward displacement of the valve body 33 also will cause the port 35 to be aligned with the passage 37 so as to enable material from the cartridge 52 to be introduced to the bore 34 of the valve body 33. Moreover, the rearward displacement of the valve 32 will cause the port 36 to register with the passage 38 so as to permit pressure fluid to communicate with the interior of the bore '34, but rearwardly of the passage 37. In these positions of the parts, the substance displaced from the cartridge 51 continuously will be introduced to the barrel bore 30 along a path defined by the passages 65 and 40, the substances from the cartridge 52 continuously will be introduced to the barrel bore 30 along a path defined by the tube '67, the passage 37, the port 35, and the valve bore 34, and pressure fluid continuously will be introduced to the barrel bore 30 from the passage 9 along a path defined by the bore 22 of the bolt 21, the chamber 24, the passage 38, the port 36, and the bore 34 of the valve body 33. The introduction of pressure fluid to the valve bore 34 rearwardly of the port 35 will cause the pressure fluid to propel the substance in the bore '34 toward and through the forward end of the body 33. The substance expelled from the valve bore 34 will be discharged into the barrel bore 30 in a chamber 70 formed by the rearward displacement of the valve 32 and will commingle with the substance discharged from the passage 40 and, under the action of the pressure fluid also being discharged from the valve bore 34, the two substances will be mixed in the chamber 70. In the disclosed apparatus, therefore, the two substances from the cartridges 51 and 52 are mixed within the spray device.

As more materials are discharged from the containers 51 and 52 to the mixing chamber 70, and as more pressure fluid is discharged to that chamber, the mixture begins to discharge from the forward end of the barrel. Pressure fluid simultaneously is discharged through the opening 29, thereby creating a relatively low pressure at the discharge end of the barrel, and which entrains the discharged mixture so as to spray the latter on the surface to be treated.

It will be understood that the rates of delivery of the two substances from the respective cartridges will depend on the relative sizes of the cartridges and the passages with which they communicate. The sizes of these parts are so selected that the amount of material discharged from one cartridge is proportional to the amount discharged from the other.

Preferably, a regulating valve 71 is adjustably mounted in the passage 40' to adjust the quantity of material being discharged from the respective containers. That is, adjustment of the regulator 71 will adjust the rate of delivery of material from the container 51, and since the two pistons 56 and 57 are coupled for conjoint movement, there will be a corresponding regulation of the rate of material discharged from the companion container 52.

When a suflicient quantity of the mixture has been discharged, the operator may release the trigger 17, whereupon a spring 19 will restore it to its normal or inactive position. As the trigger moves toward its inactive position, the valve body 33 moves forwardly so as to close the passages 37 and 40 and disable further delivery of materials from the containers 51 and 52 to the mixing chamber 70. Continued movement of the valve body 33 forwardly closes the passage 38 so as to interrupt the flow of pressure fluid to the valve bore 34, but the length of the port 36 is such that the closing of the passage 38 occurs after the closing of the passages 37 and 40, thereby enabling the pressure fluid to discharge any material from the bore 34.

As the valve body 33continues to move forwardly, its forward end will engage any residue which may be within the barrel bore 30 and move the residue toward the dis- 7 charge end. The extent of forward movement of the valve body 33 should be such that when the trigger 1 7 is in its inactive position the forward end of the valve body 33 will extend at least to the extreme forward end of the valve bore 30 so as to prevent there being any residue left in the bore 30.

Preferably, the valve body 33 is formed of tetrafluoroethylene or the like so as to preclude sticking of any materials to the valve.

In the use of the apparatus disclosed herein, the body putty material should be contained in the container cartridge 51 and the catalyst contained in the cartridge 52. The sizes of the respective containers 51 and 52 are so selected that the contents thereof will be discharged in the correct amounts necessary to produce 'the optimum end product and without reliance upon the operators skill. When the containers 51 and 52 Iare empty, the container 46 may be separated from the end cap 64, and a fresh supply substituted therefor.

The disclosed apparatus is representative of presently preferred apparatus, but is intended to be illustrative rather than definitive of the invention. The invention is defined in the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for dispensing a mixture of two substances, said apparatus comprising a barrel having a bore terminating in a forward, discharge end; means for introducing one of said substances to said barrel bore; means for introducing the other of said substances to said barrel bore; valve means for controlling the introduction of said substances to said barrel bore, said valve means snugly and slidably fitting within said barrel bore; and means connected to said valve means for moving the latter forwardly longitudinally of said barrel from a first position in which said substances may be introduced to said barrel bore to a second position in which said valve means extends at least to the discharge end of said barrel bore.

2. Apparatus for dispensing a mixture of two substances comprising a barrel having a bore terminating in a forward, discharge end; means for introducing one of said substances to said barrel bore; means for introducing the other of said substances to said barrel bore; valve means snugly and reciprocably mounted in said barrel bore for selectively enabling and disabling the introduction of said substances to said barrel bore; means for introducing pressure fluid to said barrel bore to force said substances toward said forward end thereof; and means connected to said valve means for moving the latter longitudinally of said barrel trom a first position in which said substances and said pressure fluid may be introduced to said barrel bore, to a second position in which the introduction of said substances and said fluid to said barrel bore is disabled and in which said valve means extends at least to the discharge end of said barrel bore.

3. Apparatus for mixing and dispensing two substances, said apparatus comprising a barrel having a bore therein; axially spaced ports communicating with said barrel bore for introducing said substances thereto; pressure fluid means for commingling said substances within said barrel bore and for propelling said substances toward one end of said barrel bore; valve means slideably supported in said barrel for movement from a first position in which said ports are open to said barrel bore, to a second position in which said ports are closed; and means connected to said valve means for moving the latter axially of said barrel from said first position to said second position and in which said valve means extends at least to the one end of d arrel b re.

4. Apparatus for mixing and dispensnig two substances, said apparatus comprising a barrel having a bore therein; axially spaced ports communicating with said barrel bore for introducing said substances thereto; valve means reciprocably mounted in said barrel bore for movement from a first position in which one of said ports is open to said barrel bore, to a second position in which said one of said ports is closed, said valve means having a bore therein opening into said barrel bore and in communication with a passage which may communicate with the other of said ports only when said valve means is in said first position; means connected to said valve means for moving the latter from and to its said positions; and pressure fluid delivery means in communication with the bore of said valve means when the latter is in said first position for propelling said substances axially of said barrel bore toward and through one end of the latter.

5. Apparatus for mixing and dispensing two substances, said apparatus comprising a barrel having a bore terminating in a forward, discharge end; first and second axially spaced passages in communication with said bore rearwardly of said discharge end and through which said substances may be introduced to said barrel bore; an axially slideable, bored valve having a discharge end and accommodated in the bore of said barrel and movable from a first position in which both of said passages are open to a second position in which both of said passages are closed, said valve having a port providing communication between one of said passages and the bore of said valve only when the latter is in said first position; fluid delivery means in communication with the bore of said valve for propelling the substance introduced thereto via said one of said passages and said port toward the discharge end of said valve, the other of said passages being spaced rearwardly from the discharge end of said barrel so that said substances are commingled within said barrel; and means connected to said valve for moving the latter axially of said barrel, the movement of said valve from said first position to said second position locating the discharge end of said valve at the discharge end of said barrel.

6. The apparatus set forth in claim 5 wherein said valve has a second port therein through which said pressure fluid may be introduced to the bore of said valve when the latter is in said first position, and in which the movement of said valve toward said second position effects closing of said one of said passages prior to the closing of said second port.

7. The apparatus set forth in claim 5 including individ ual containers for said substances in communication with the respective passages, and pressure fluid delivery means communicating with said containers for expelling said substances therefrom to said passages.

8. The apparatus set forth in claim 5 wherein said barrel is provided with pressure fluid delivery means for delivering pressure fluid to the discharge end of said barrel, and means mounted on the discharge end of said barrel for discharging said pressure fluid in a spray.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,296,079 9/ 1942 Anderson 239-l 18 2,809,499 8/ 1957 Goyette et al. 239-118 2,971,700 2/ 1961 Peeps 239-428 3,03 8,750 6/ 1962 Nielson i. 239-428 3,263,928 8/ 1966 Gusmer 239-142 EVERETT W. KIRBY, Primary Examiner. 

1. APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING A MIXTURE OF TWO SUBSTANCES, SAID APPARATUS COMPRISING A BARREL HAVING A BORE TERMINATING IN A FORWARD, DISCHARGE END; MEANS FOR INTRODUCING ONE OF SAID SUBSTANCES TO SAID BARREL BORE; MEANS FOR INTRODUCING THE OTHER OF SAID SUBSTANCES TO SAID BARREL BORE; VALVE MEANS FOR CONTROLLING THE INTRODUCTION OF SAID SUBSTANCES TO SAID BARREL BORE, SAID VALVE MEANS SNUGLY AND SLIDABLY FITTING WITHIN SAID BARREL BORE; AND MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID VALVE MEANS FOR MOVING THE LATTER 